I mean how do you feel about the scene in The Heist, where Mac attaches the fish hook to the woman's dress. It was meant as a diversion to steal the dice but you can also say that was sexual harrassment or at least public humiliation. And we all had a laugh about that, didn't we?

Well, I actually don't. In fact, I still cringe about that scene. To me, this one and the one where MacGyver dresses up as a the black-skinned voodoo priest is pretty much the most cringe-worthy scenes of the Original Show.

Looking back at Reboot Season 2 in it's entirety and seeing every episode twice (once English, once German), I have to say I still love this episode and think it's actually one of the best.

I also still think this one should have been the Season Premiere episode (either sans Cage to be introduced later or with Cage agreeing to help out if Matty agrees to help her to rescue her friend).

Yes I still have my problems with this scene. To me, it's harassement alright; especially because she's a) his boss (no matter how long they've known each other or what happened between them) and b) it happens in front of his co-workers.

The script was written by a guy, but there are several female writers/producers on the team and I still wouldn't like it if it had been written by a woman. I still feel that Matty is harassing her employees by calling them "Blondie" (Mac), "Spectacles" (Jill) or slapping their asses. I'm all for female characters being kick-ass cool and tough, but this is not cool in my opinion. It's demeaning.

I was about 14 at the time when I first saw The Heist and never thought anything of it, just as I don't think anything of Matty slapping Jack's butt. Her condenscending attitude towards the team and other employees bothers me more then a slap on the butt or the remark that she has seen it before. Maybe she meant she saw mens butts before therefore not Jack's per se. It would be the same thing doctors or nurses would say before an exam or washing a patient.

The name calling bothers me more, especially when she seems to be doing it systematically. I know a couple of things to call her as well and she would be easier pushed to tears then others. Maybe that's why I can take the slap on the butt and maybe Jack as well, because there are much harsher things to be said to her or about her. I don't mean that I would appreciate it, I would give her my killer look but I can take it. I'll let it slip once, maybe twice but not three times.

Miasma

Posted on 17 October 2018 - 05:20 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 17 October 2018 - 11:31 PM)

It does make me wonder how old most of us are here? Are we (really/already) that old that we can't follow anymore?

I can follow it, but it's hard to get invested in what's happening when we are not given time to really process it, and when the characters aren't given time to respond to the things that are happening to them (beyond on the most basic level.) It's like watching a music video: Sure, I can follow whatever story is being told in the music video, but I'm not going to get invested in that story or care about the characters in it. I don't think age is really a factor. Even when I was fifteen, I didn't get invested in the story lines of music videos. Slowing things down a bit and allowing more time to develop the characters and build the tension with the villains would actually make the actions scenes more exciting because I'd care more.

DashboardOnFire

Posted on 17 October 2018 - 05:08 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 17 October 2018 - 01:31 PM)

I mean how do you feel about the scene in The Heist, where Mac attaches the fish hook to the woman's dress. It was meant as a diversion to steal the dice but you can also say that was sexual harrassment or at least public humiliation. And we all had a laugh about that, didn't we?

Well, I actually don't. In fact, I still cringe about that scene. To me, this one and the one where MacGyver dresses up as a the black-skinned voodoo priest is pretty much the most cringe-worthy scenes of the Original Show.

Looking back at Reboot Season 2 in it's entirety and seeing every episode twice (once English, once German), I have to say I still love this episode and think it's actually one of the best.

I also still think this one should have been the Season Premiere episode (either sans Cage to be introduced later or with Cage agreeing to help out if Matty agrees to help her to rescue her friend).

Yes I still have my problems with this scene. To me, it's harassement alright; especially because she's a) his boss (no matter how long they've known each other or what happened between them) and b) it happens in front of his co-workers.

The script was written by a guy, but there are several female writers/producers on the team and I still wouldn't like it if it had been written by a woman. I still feel that Matty is harassing her employees by calling them "Blondie" (Mac), "Spectacles" (Jill) or slapping their asses. I'm all for female characters being kick-ass cool and tough, but this is not cool in my opinion. It's demeaning.

MacGyverGod

Posted on 17 October 2018 - 03:31 AM

An episode based on The Heist. This was a pretty good episode but maybe it should've been set at night. It just seemed odd to see all those people play at the casino at broad daylight. Also I think the first female villain in the show and that security manager's real name is Darin Cooper, just like the boy from Eagles.

QUOTE

The editing/pacing is way too fast for us to get involved in anything that's happening.

It does make me wonder how old most of us are here? Are we (really/already) that old that we can't follow anymore? I do admit that the first two episode very flashy, even to me, but once past that I think they slowed down just enough. At 32 I'm not a millenial at all, I grew up with the original show and the fast pace doesn't bother me at all. Though I still agree that it wouldn't hurt to go deeper into MacGyverisms: close-ups of hands, no split-screens and optional voice over explanation.

QUOTE

I'm not always sure if I'm just being too critical of the Reboot.

Sometimes, I think you are, Dash. But then again we're entitled to our own opinions.

I don't always agree with what has been said here so far. I'm 50/50 about most things here. It just seems to me that whatever didn't happen in the original show shouldn't happen in the reboot. I can't agree with that because in the end you'll have a copy of the original and I think the reboot should be able to distinguish itself from the original so it can stand on it's own. So, no, I don't mind that Mac apparently has a kinky side and a thing for handcuffs. Who knows what kinky sides our Mac had? Even a loner like him has his fantasies and needs. If he would've had a (if not secret) relationship with Kate Murphy, I can imagine him saying: 'Don't forget the cuffs.' Nobody would expect that from him because he's a decent guy, but everyone has deviant side, even our Mac. But I think a lot more happened in the original show that is happening in the reboot as well.

QUOTE

I'm really unhappy with the "hospital scene". Matty slapping Jack on the butt AND the comments about having it seen already in front of everyone else - that's actually sexual harrassment, no? I mean, just think if the roles had been reversed and Jack had done that to Matty - people would have gone berserk and demanded the show to be cancelled.

That's already sexual harrassment? I agree, the other way would've been worse probably. For some reason, it never goes both ways. A man should be able to take it but with a woman it's immediately harrassment? Sometimes I think we should sew our eyes shut because looking at woman could be sexual harrassment too and there's no way of defending ourselves. It's a touchy subject, I know and I respect your opinion and it's terrible for the ones who went or are going through it. No means no, period. But this scene was not sexual harrassment. It was more to say that Jack had to man up.

I mean how do you feel about the scene in The Heist, where Mac attaches the fish hook to the woman's dress. It was meant as a diversion to steal the dice but you can also say that was sexual harrassment or at least public humiliation. And we all had a laugh about that, didn't we?

Think the whole scene was meant to be funny because big ol' Jack was acting all whimsical about his butt and he had to get a shot. Now if it was Mac laying there, that would've been less funny I guess, I don't know.

The fact she says she's seen it before..., maybe there's not supposed to be any shame within the team. Who knows maybe she had a relationship with him before. Or maybe it's to show that despite their somewhat restrained relationship they actually like or at least respect each other but neither of them wants to show it because of their pride.

QUOTE

Also, why did they dumb down Jack so much? He resembles much more Original Jack Dalton now - which would be fine if they hadn't made him an Ex-CIA-Delta-Sniper who obviously had some team-leading-knowledge. He felt much more believable in that role in Season 1. Obviously he doesn't need to be the brightest team member of Team Phoenix, but this is bordering on ridiculous.

No they didn't. We were only three episodes in, there is something else though but I'll address that in the Halloween episode.

QUOTE

Ok, so they blew up something (didn't quite catch what.....)

DXS, are you actually paying attention when you're watching? I've read more messages about you that you seem to mix up things or don't know what actually happened and just write something down. They used the bomb to blow up the vault.

I agree with Miasma though but I don't mind that Mac remains a little more mysterious. Yes, I actually like it that he seems to have great knowledge of history and math and science. As I said before, if they really want to stick with the team aspect fine but they can take the Magnum approach. In Magnum's later seasons there are plenty of episodes that were more personal and Higgins, Rick and TC had small roles or simply cameos. This Mac can go out alone or have a Mac/Jack episodes or Mac/Matty or Mac/Riley or Mac/Bozer. There's a lot of interesting way to deepen this out.

QUOTE

I know the Original Show didn't care for that kind of continuity either, but it would have been nice if they had followed up on MacGvyer's bullet wound scar from the pilot episode... that's like the second time we see him shirtless; it's not like they have put in hours to plant fake scars on Lucas all the time...

Goes for RDA too. They should've had added at least two bullet holes in his abdomen and one in his right arm when he was shirtless in Passages.

So, but now back to the review. All in all a good episode. I think Mac/Till looked good in that suit. Of course he doesn't have broad shoulders like RDA. Again Riley looks good with her hair down. Hard to believe it's that long and also Cage looks good in that dress. The bomb in the vault reminded me of the dynamite in the money brief case in Jack in the Box. Jack who wanted to take money and Mac knocking it out of his hands made me scream: 'No, no, not the money, not the money, no!' Boom. Nice touch.

DashboardOnFire

Posted on 29 October 2017 - 02:33 AM

Slightly off-topic, but this is amazing. A 9-year-old dressed up as Jack Dalton's cover identity "Ernie Bung" for Halloween

I know the Original Show didn't care for that kind of continuity either, but it would have been nice if they had followed up on MacGvyer's bullet wound scar from the pilot episode... that's like the second time we see him shirtless; it's not like they have put in hours to plant fake scars on Lucas all the time...

I'm sure since being a spy is their main job, Mac and Jack should have more scars anyway. Also, would have fit with the Cairo Story. They said Cairo was the worst mission ever, so I'm sure someone got hurt back then as well.

DashboardOnFire

Posted on 17 October 2017 - 12:54 PM

QUOTE (RidleyJ @ 17 October 2017 - 02:01 PM)

I am so very curious to see how they fair at the 9pm slot on the Friday before Halloween. I'm not sure how the audience from the cartoon will carry over. I would love to see them pull numbers close to Hawaii Five-0.

I would love them to pull such numbers as well, but I don't believe they ever will.

And I just realized that October 27th is the day "Blindspot" has its premiere at 8pm. It would have been a direct competition with the Reboot if they didn't air the Halloween Special; shoving "MacGyver" over to 9pm for once.

I wonder if that's part of the reason for the Halloween Special to air on October 27 instead of on Halloween? To help MacGyver with ratings and testing how it would fair at 9pm?

"Blindspot" used to air on Wednesdays and pulled about 4.9 million live viewers per episode on average; but had started its Season 2 Premiere with about 7 millions.

DashboardOnFire

Posted on 17 October 2017 - 10:22 AM

QUOTE (Miasma @ 17 October 2017 - 05:33 PM)

The funny thing about this reboot is that I recall Lenkov once saying that the reason he didn't make Mac a "lone wolf' for this series is because he wanted to develop his character more by giving him more people to interact with.

I remember that interview!

I've been wondering... because when Lenkov took over, he already knew that Lucas and George would stay on board. He had seen the Unaired Pilot and knew they had chemistry, so that might have influenced the script.

George has the most experience in TV and in my opinion also the best acting chops. I guess it was interesting to write for his character. They had intended for Justin as Bozer being the comedic relief, but realized how comedic George's timing is and how well he plays off Lucas. (I think no matter who joined as regular or extra later on, these two together have the best scenes acting-wise and the best chemistry.)

George is already center-point in the second episode and got to say the most funny lines. Then they made Bozer a regular, had to introduce Matty... and somehow they lost focus on MacGyver and Lucas in the process. As you said, I still don't really know who he is. And as the main hero that lent the show its name, he should be the most interesting character; even when he doesn't have that much more screentime than the others.

RidleyJ

Posted on 17 October 2017 - 10:08 AM

QUOTE (Miasma @ 17 October 2017 - 07:33 AM)

The funny thing about this reboot is that I recall Lenkov once saying that the reason he didn't make Mac a "lone wolf' for this series is because he wanted to develop his character more by giving him more people to interact with. In theory, that's a fine idea. I think Mac in the original series worked well in Season 3 when he had a lot of recurring guest stars (Nikki, Pete, and Jack all showed up more regularly in that season than in any other.) But it's having the opposite effect in this reboot. I still don't feel I really KNOW this version of Mac. He's smart and he has daddy issues, but that's about it.

I think they really need to do some episodes that aren't based around Phoenix Foundation assignments. And I feel funny saying that, because I was disappointed with the original series when it moved so far away from the Phoenix Foundation assignments in later seasons. But there should be a balance. Maybe one out of every three or four episodes could be about some adventure Mac gets into on his own (i.e. not an assignment.) Those would give us a chance to see him more as an individual, and not just as an agent.

I'm not sure they would even have need for Mac to be on his own per say for us to get to know him, but I would love for the episodes to be more ABOUT him. Like I don't want to know so much about Riley's dad, or have Bozer have a three episode love arc?? Really? Why? I also know we are getting a Cage back story. We end up knowing more about them and being more emotionally invested in them. I don't mind Mac having a partner-I love Jack, but I don't understand why they can't give us more about Mac and have episodes like the one where he went back to MIT which I loved, and even when they went back to Mission City although I hated how they shoved his relationship with Bozer down our throats. (I might have a teensy problem with so much Bozer love). But like you, I'm not sure I know much about Mac. I even liked it when he was trying to find Nikki because at least that was about him and now we have this huge focus on Riley and her dad and Bozer and this new love interest.